The deluded can be good people.

I just attended a family dinner, and one of my in-laws expressed his opinion that the American government is still appropriately trying to inject democracy into Iraq, a country that , in his opinion, is almost completely populated by male muslims that want to maintain female subjugation.

I tried to say that oil was the real reason for America's presence in Iraq, but he didn't want to listen.

Strangely enough, this relative is a good man that takes good care of his family. He usually shows compassion towards others, so I am confused as to why he doesn't see the current U.S. administration as war-mongers.

I'm confident that he is very wrong in his opinion, but I am starting to understand that the assumption that people are either good or bad doesn't fully describe everyone who has an opinion about the middle east.

My main question is how good people could be so stupid?

reply to post by droid56


well I think the real story is to much to bear for some,
The world you thought you knew is no more... I notice my mom deflects the issue to. The truth as we see would rock the entire world, the masters of conflict double as master of psychology as well. As long as there is a tiny dot of doubt the oldies will
buy the story handed to them.

Originally posted by droid56

I'm confident that he is very wrong in his opinion, but I am starting to understand that the assumption that people are either good or bad doesn't fully describe everyone who has an opinion about the middle east.

My main question is how good people could be so stupid?

First of all consider yourself lucky to be at least one level above these people in regards to your understanding of the world around you. Then again - sometimes I have to agree that ignorance can be bliss.

While you can give them hints and tools to find information elsewhere so they can make better informed opinions - remember most people want to be told how things are by others, and they are lazy in that way - even though they may be productive workers.

I use this analogy - I try to learn as much as I can about everything I use so I don't have to rely of someone else's magic in order to get it repaired or at least enough so they can't bamboozle me and charge me too much. If I know what it takes to repair then they cannot fool me. Likewise if I look at all the facts in the middle east - I can make my own judgment about why I think things are what they are - instead of relying on some corporate newscaster to give me his opinion of his companies best interest.

I too am surrounded by family that while probably more stable, nicer & more productive cogs in the wheel of society, most of them don't have a clue about much beyond their jobs and what they're fed through the MSM. I've learned that some of them are more comfortable that way and they can't handle the shock of the truth especially if they are older and nearing the end of their life expectancy. I think it's better to let them finish their lives in peace without upsetting their view of our world as invalid as it may be.


[edit on 10-8-2008 by verylowfrequency]

We are all deluded to some extent. Some less than others.

And in addition, our level of delusion and our level of moral goodness are not related.

Some of the most truly evil people on the planet are those who know exactly what is going on, even better than you or I. At the other end of the spectrum, I have always found people with Downs Syndrome to be pleasant, cheerful, and kind.